Liberalism in Turkey

Liberalism was first introduced in the Ottoman Empire during the Tanzimat period (1839–1876) of reformation, following the Edict of Gülhane in 1839. The reforms encouraged Ottomanism among the diverse ethnic groups of the Empire and attempted to curb the rise of nationalism in the Ottoman Empire. This led to the Armenian National Constitution in 1863^[1] and subsequently the Ottoman constitution of 1876 which was advocated for by the Young Ottomans.^[2]^[3] The Young Ottomans considered the modern parliamentary system to be a restatement shura, that had existed in early Islam.^[4]

The First Constitutional Era, ended two years later in 1878 when Sultan Abdül Hamid II, suspended the constitution and parliament in favor of a return to absolute monarchy.^[5]

Citing social unrest in the wake of the Ottoman's defeat in the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), Abdul Hamid II took the opportunity to suspend parliament.^[6] Several decades later, another group of reform-minded Ottomans, called the Young Turks, repeated the Young Ottomans' efforts, leading to the Young Turk Revolution in 1908 and the beginning of the Second Constitutional Era. Whereas the short First Constitutional Era lacked political parties,^{[citation needed]} the second era initially featured unprecedented political pluralism within the empire and openly contested elections.

^ Joseph, John (1983). Muslim-christian relations & inter-christian rivalries in the middle east: the case of the Jacobites. [S.l.]: Suny Press. p. 81. ISBN 9780873956000. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
^ H. Davison, Roderic (1973). Reform in the Ottoman Empire, 1856–1876 (2, reprint ed.). Gordian Press. p. 134. ISBN 9780877521358. Retrieved 21 January 2013. But it can be shown that Midhat Pasa, the principal author of the 1876 constitution, was directly influenced by the Armenians.
^ United States Congressional serial set, Issue 7671 (Volume ed.). United States Senate: 66th Congress. 2nd session. 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 January 2013. In 1876 a constitution for Turkey was drawn up by the Armenian Krikor Odian, secretary to Midhat Pasha the reformer, and was proclaimed and almost immediately revoked by Sultan Abdul Hamid
^ Bertrand Bereilles. "La Diplomatie turco-phanarote". Introduction to Rapport secret de Karatheodory Pacha sur le Congrès de Berlin, Paris, 1919, p. 25. Quote translated from French: "The majority of the government officials in the Ottoman Empire selected a Greek or an Armenian as their advisor in reform." The author mentions two names amongst these "advisors", Dr. Serop Vitchenian, who was the adviser to Fuad Pasha, and Grigor Odian, deputy to Midhat Pasha, who is the author of the Ottoman constitution of 1876.
^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Gottfried Plagemann: Von Allahs Gesetz zur Modernisierung per Gesetz. Gesetz und Gesetzgebung im Osmanischen Reich und der Republik Türkei. Lit Verlag

[Joseph-1] Joseph, John (1983). Muslim-christian relations & inter-christian rivalries in the middle east: the case of the Jacobites. [S.l.]: Suny Press. p. 81. ISBN 9780873956000. Retrieved 21 January 2013.

[Davison-2] H. Davison, Roderic (1973). Reform in the Ottoman Empire, 1856–1876 (2, reprint ed.). Gordian Press. p. 134. ISBN 9780877521358. Retrieved 21 January 2013. But it can be shown that Midhat Pasa, the principal author of the 1876 constitution, was directly influenced by the Armenians.

[3] United States Congressional serial set, Issue 7671 (Volume ed.). United States Senate: 66th Congress. 2nd session. 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 January 2013. In 1876 a constitution for Turkey was drawn up by the Armenian Krikor Odian, secretary to Midhat Pasha the reformer, and was proclaimed and almost immediately revoked by Sultan Abdul Hamid

[4] Bertrand Bereilles. "La Diplomatie turco-phanarote". Introduction to Rapport secret de Karatheodory Pacha sur le Congrès de Berlin, Paris, 1919, p. 25. Quote translated from French: "The majority of the government officials in the Ottoman Empire selected a Greek or an Armenian as their advisor in reform." The author mentions two names amongst these "advisors", Dr. Serop Vitchenian, who was the adviser to Fuad Pasha, and Grigor Odian, deputy to Midhat Pasha, who is the author of the Ottoman constitution of 1876.

[:0-5] Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[6] Gottfried Plagemann: Von Allahs Gesetz zur Modernisierung per Gesetz. Gesetz und Gesetzgebung im Osmanischen Reich und der Republik Türkei. Lit Verlag

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